Patterson v. Winn 24 U.S. 380 (1826)

U.S. Supreme Court

Patterson v. Winn, 24 U.S. 11 Wheat. 380 380 (1826)

Patterson v. Winn

24 U.S. (11 Wheat.) 380

Syllabus

In general, the validity of a patent for lands can only be impeached for causes anterior to its being issued in a court of equity. But where the grant is absolutely void, as where the state has no title or the officer has no authority to issue the grant, the validity of the grant may be contested at law.

The laws of Georgia in the year 1787 did not prohibit the issuing of a patent to any one person for more than one thousand acres of land. The proviso in the act of assembly of 17 February 1783, limiting the quantity to that number, is exclusively confined to head rights.

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